POTENTIAL ANTI-ULCER ACTIVITY OF SIDDHA POLY HERBAL FORMULATION PANCHA MOOLA KUDINEER CHOORANAM: INSIGHTS FROM MOLECULAR DOCKING

The Siddha medicine system, predominantly practiced in South India, encompasses a diverse range of medicinal formulations. Among them, Pancha Moola Kudineer Chooranam (PMKC) from the Therayar Maha Karisal literature is claimed to be effective against ulcers. Helicobacter pylori, causes gastric and duodenal ulcers through various transmission routes. It colonizes the duodenal epithelial cells, leading to gastritis, gastric atrophy, and potentially gastric carcinoma. This study provided valuable insights on the potential anti-ulcer activity of root extracts of the formulation PMKC, which includes Glycyrrhiza glabra, Chukrasia tabularis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica, and Phyllanthus emblica against Helicobacter pylori through molecular docking. Eight bioactive compounds were identified which underwent docking calculations. The results indicated that these phytochemicals interacted with the active amino acid residues of H. pylori urease, suggesting potential inhibitory effects on the enzyme. Among the compounds tested, Glycyrrhizin demonstrated the highest inhibition against H. pylori urease, followed by Gallic acid. Maslinic acid and Chuktabrin showed minimal inhibition. In conclusion, the active components of PMKC exhibited significant binding affinity to H. pylori urease, indicating their potential as therapeutic agents for managing ulcers. These findings underscore the anti-ulcer activity of the phytochemicals present in PMKC’s root extracts, emphasizing the importance of further research in this field.